Related Characters in Lolita - Key Quote Analysis
The Complex Web of Character Relationships
Let's dive into some of the most revealing quotes that illuminate the relationships between characters in Nabokov's "Lolita."
Humbert and Charlotte
"Charlotte, who did not notice the falsity of all the everyday conventions and rules of behavior, and foods, and books, and people..."Note
This quote reveals Humbert's contempt for Charlotte while highlighting his own perceived intellectual superiority. The irony is that while he criticizes her inability to see through conventions, he fails to recognize his own moral blindness.
Humbert and Quilty
"Because you took advantage of a sinner Because you took advantage Because you took Because you took advantage of my disadvantage..."Tip
This quote from Humbert's poem to Quilty before killing him shows how both characters mirror each other, with Humbert refusing to acknowledge their similarities.
Lolita and Charlotte
"The Haze woman, the big bitch, the old cat, the obnoxious mama, the—the old stupid Haze is no longer your dupe."Common Mistake
Many readers overlook the significance of the mother-daughter relationship between Charlotte and Lolita, focusing solely on Humbert's perspective. This quote reveals the complex dynamics between mother and daughter.
Lolita and Clare Quilty
"He was the only man she had ever been crazy about."Example
This devastating revelation near the end of the novel shows how Quilty, not Humbert, was Lolita's true object of desire, completely undermining Humbert's romantic narrative of their relationship.
